Method and portable apparatus for spinal adjustment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable spinal adjustment apparatus and method for assisting a user thereof to adjust the user's spine. The apparatus includes an elongate member which defines a substantially convex substantially rigid surface which is disposed between a first end and a second end of the elongate member. The convex rigid surface features a radius of about 2 to 4 inches, thereby defining a first side and a second side, and a length suitable to cooperate with and transversely support a body region of the user. The first end of the elongate member supports the elongate member during use thereof such that the convex rigid surface is facing upward, and the second end of the elongate member also supports the elongate member during use thereof such that the convex rigid surface is horizontal. So disposed and defined by the present invention, the convex rigid surface manifests an arcuate fulcrum, whereby employment thereof combined with the effect of gravity and simple leverage, the user is assisted in adjusting the user's spine.

1. A portable spinal adjustment apparatus for assisting a user to adjust the user's spine, said apparatus combined with an independent support in deployment, said independent support including but not limited to chairs, stools, saw horses, chain and rope, said apparatus comprising:
 an elongate member having a first end and a second end, 
 said elongate member defining a greatest dimension a substantially rigid substantially convex surface disposed between said first end and said second end of said elongate member, 
 said elongate member shape selected from the group consisting of tubular, semi-circular and inverted U-shaped, 
 said substantially rigid substantially convex surface defining a radius of about two to four inches for suitable spine-adjusting opposition pressure, 
 said first end and said second end of said elongate member defining means to engage said independent support for safe and convenient deployment, 
 said means to engage being selected from the group consisting of padding, deformable plastics, rubber, and stops for adherence and/or fixation and/or non-marring with respect to said independent support, 
 said first end of said elongate member engaging said independent support and said second end of said elongate member engaging said independent support such that said substantially rigid substantially convex surface is horizontal and sufficient to transversely communicate with and contact an abdominal region of the user, 
 said elongate member and said independent support in combination manifesting an arcuate fulcrum whereby in use of the apparatus, due to gravity acting on unsupported body regions of the user, said arcuate fulcrum exerts a spine-adjusting pressure to the supported body region such that adjacent vertebrae of the user's spine are urged radially and extensively along the supported body region for relieving pressure on adjacent discs. 
 
   
   
     2. A portable spinal adjustment apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  further including:
 indicia visible on a convenient surface of said elongate member, said indicia include pictographs recognizable throughout the world, and connected in sequence, as to some how the apparatus is to be used and further pictographs showing some how the apparatus is not to be used. 
 
   
   
     3. A portable spinal adjustment apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said apparatus further includes:
 a beam of rectangular cross sectional configuration, such that said beam defines a first and a second flat and a first and a second border, said beam extends along and is rigidly secured to an inside surface of said elongate member, said first border of said beam secured to said inside surface of said elongate member and said second border of said beam secured to said inside surface of said elongate member; wherein 
 said beam having a first extremity and a second extremity, the arrangement is such that said first extremity of said beam projects away from said first end of said elongate member and said second extremity of said beam projects away from said second end of said elongate member. 
 
   
   
     4. A portable spinal adjustment apparatus as set forth in  claim 3  wherein
 said beam is secured to said tubular elongate member such that said first flat and said second flat each define a distinct chord which extends internally within and across said tubular elongate member, the arrangement being such that when said beam is supported at said first flat of said beam, said tubular elongate member is disposed in a first location thereof and when said beam is supported at said second flat of said beam, said tubular elongate member is disposed in a second location thereof, said second location differing in elevation from said first location. 
 
   
   
     5. A portable spinal adjustment apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  further including:
 said elongate member having an attached finish selected from the group consisting of resilient and textured. 
 
   
   
     6. A portable spinal adjustment apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 stop means are selected from the group consisting of boosts and indentations. 
 
   
   
     7. A portable spinal adjustment apparatus for assisting a user to adjust the user's spine, said apparatus combined with an independent support in deployment, said independent support including but not limited to chairs, stools, saw horses, chain and rope, said apparatus comprising:
 an elongate member having a first end and a second end and extending between said first end and said second end, a first edge and a second edge, 
 said elongate member defining a substantially rigid substantially convex surface disposed between said first end and said second end bounded by said first edge and said second edge of said elongate member, 
 said substantially rigid substantially convex surface defining a length sufficient to contact a user's abdomen and a radius of about two to four inches for suitable, safe yet extensively resisting the user's body weight, 
 said elongate member further defining an inside surface, convenient and extending concavely, between the first and second edges, adjacent the convex surface, 
 said first end and said second end and said first edge and said second edge of said elongate member defining means of engagement for safe and convenient deployment with respect to said independent support, such that in variations of deployment involving engagement at said ends or said edges, or said inside surface of said elongate member in combination with said independent support, said rigid convex surface is upward and horizontal and sufficient to transversely communicate with and support a body region of the user and said combination manifesting an arcuate fulcrum, so that in use of said apparatus, due to gravity acting on an unsupported body region of the user, said arcuate fulcrum exerts a spine-adjusting pressure to the supported body region such that adjacent vertebrae of the user's spine are urged radially and extensively along the supported body region for relieving pressure on adjacent discs. 
 
   
   
     8. A portable spinal adjustment apparatus as set forth in  claim 7  wherein
 said means of engagement is selected from the group consisting of resilient coverings, paddings, deformable plastics, rubber, and stops for the purpose of adherence and/or fixation and/or non-marring and/or elevation adjustment with respect to independent support. 
 
   
   
     9. A portable spinal adjustment apparatus as set forth in  claim 8  wherein
 said stops being indicated and defined by elongate member contour offering opposition with respect to independent support. 
 
   
   
     10. A portable spinal adjustment apparatus as set forth in  claim 3  further including:
 a first hole and a second hole, respectively, in said first extremity and said second extremity of said beam; 
 said first hole and said second hole offering engagement of said beam to independent support. 
 
   
   
     11. A portable spinal adjustment apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 said elongate member is generically comprised of a first kitchen chair and a second kitchen chair, a separation padding and a shape padding; wherein 
 the arrangement being such that the first and second chairs, each defining an elongate substantially rigid member at the top of the chair backs are disposed back to back, each thus being independent support for the other, with said separation padding as means of engagement with independent support, and said shape padding combined with the rigid members and separation padding defining said substantially convex surface. 
 
   
   
     12. A spinal adjustment method for assisting a user to adjust the user's lumbar spine according to  claim 1 , said method steps comprising:
 providing an elongate member, an independent support and means for engagement; 
 said independent support consisting of two chairs each having a front seat side and a rear elevated back side; 
 arranging the rear elevated sides of said chairs back to back and in a position whereby said means for engagement is positioned between and on a top surface of the elevated sides of said chairs thereby providing said elongate member; 
 kneeling on said front seat side of either chair and transversely positioning and supporting an abdominal region on said elongate member such that the user's upper torso is at the opposite side of the back to back arrangement of said chairs; 
 transferring the user's body weight from the knees to the abdomen so supported on said elongate member; 
 relaxing for a suitable moment; 
 wherein under the influence of gravity acting on unsupported body regions of the user, the elongate member, manifesting an arcuate fulcrum, provides extensively reducing resistance and path to the user's anatomy so divergently supported such that adjacent vertebrae of the user's spine are directed radially and extensively along the abdominal region, thus effecting lumbar adjustment.